What is love?
Gu Yi is better now; he can resume his duties as a council member. But she didn't even get to see him in person to explain... what happened last night.
Although young, she was already a powerful figure, the head of the Divine Weapon Hall, no ordinary woman. She knew that Gu Yi wasn't in a normal state at the time and didn't intend for him to bear any responsibility. But even as a friend, couldn't Gu Yi thank her in person for helping her?
She only heard about his recovery from other people.
Even Cui Luzhu's joking voice sounded distant: "It's said that our A Qiu's position was decided by the Emperor and Consort Chen together, and she's the only one in the entire Music Bureau. Isn't that more prestigious?"
A-Qiu had never considered herself a petty or detail-oriented girl, but for the first time in her life, she felt a deep sense of loneliness and disappointment.
It felt like my heart had fallen to the bottom of an abyss.
She is carefree, but not stupid, nor is she ignorant of social etiquette.
Gu Yi had never acted like this before. He might be reserved, but he would still play with her, let her be silly, teach her things, and personally take her home. Even if he really had official business to attend to, he would explain it to her in a seemingly casual manner.
Instead of simply and cleanly abandoning her as we are doing now.
Gu Yi is meticulous and wouldn't make such a mistake due to carelessness or being busy.
As A-Qiu walked aimlessly, listening to the sound of his wooden clogs tapping on the ground, he gradually understood.
He was trying to avoid suspicion.
He didn't want her to misunderstand.
Zhang E'xu's voice still echoed, filled with regret: "What a pity, we won't see Xiao Xiao in the palace for a long time. So many of us sisters were so happy we couldn't sleep when we found out he wasn't a eunuch!"
Cui Luzhu shared the same sentiment: "Yes, but he said he was the only man among the Flying Phoenix Guards, and Master Gu Yi said that since there was no need to avoid suspicion, he could be taken out for training. I originally thought that he was just transferred from the Music Bureau to the East Palace, and since we would be in the same palace, we would still be able to meet again. But now that he's gone, I feel that the whole palace is no longer interesting."
A Qiu heard her own voice and said blankly, "Young Master... no, where did Xiao Xiao go?"
Zhang Exu answered correctly: "The Marquis of Guannei wanted to lead 80,000 Shuofang troops south to pay homage to the emperor. Gu Yishao personally went to persuade him to leave his troops north of the Yangtze River and bring fewer people to Jianzhang Palace."
It was a big deal, but Gu Yi—if he wanted to, wouldn't give her a single word, nor would he leave her any time to say a word.
Autumn is approaching, the yellow leaves are sparse and desolate, and the pavilions and singing halls near and far seem to be gloomy and colorless.
"A graceful young woman dances before the emperor, her beauty radiant and captivating."
For you, she hesitated, her gaze lingering, her smile unspoken.
With long sleeves brushing against my face, my heart is filled with anguish; I wish you continued youth and vitality.
At this moment, A-Qiu suddenly understood the meaning behind the lyrics of "White Silk".
At first listen, one does not understand the meaning of the song; upon listening again, one becomes a character in the song.
As she looked up at the magnificent palace, A Qiu felt the same way as Cui Luzhu.
"...At least we're in the same palace, so we can still run into each other. But now that he's gone, I feel like the whole palace is no fun at all!"
What is the purpose of this visit?
For power. For the Lanling Hall behind him.
Why did everything seem to lose its vitality after that person left?
This is what emotion is.
With this feeling of disappointment, A-Qiu stepped into the main hall of the Music Bureau's meeting room.
An elderly eunuch with long, lowered eyebrows, dressed in a crimson brocade robe, stood smiling in the center of the hall, holding an imperial edict in his hand.
The highest-ranking eunuch in the Music Bureau, Chenghua Ling'an An Daoling, had long been in semi-retirement, yet he came in person for this imperial decree addressed to A Qiu, demonstrating the Music Bureau's current regard for her.
A Qiu immediately recognized An Gong's golden lotus token—the Heavenly Secret Token—hanging from his waist.
Given Xiao Chang'an's relationship with him, A Qiu had already guessed that Cheng Hua Ling An Gong was probably An Shihe, the "Master of Flute" among the four martial arts masters "Four Stars of Heavenly Secrets" who entered the palace back then.
If An Daoling were not a member of the martial arts world, he would not have covered up Xiao Chang'an's identity and allowed him to blend into the music bureau without any reason.
But Ah Qiu certainly couldn't let Lord An discover this. If she herself were not a martial artist but just an ordinary musician, she would never know so many martial arts stories and palace secrets.
Little did she know that on her very first night at the Music Bureau, she had already attracted An Daoling's attention. But that wasn't because she had slipped up, because no matter how capable An Daoling was, he couldn't possibly keep an eye on everyone in the Music Bureau.
It was because Gu Yi had his eye on her at that time.
Because of the song "Chang'an Wind" that she played.
A-Qiu stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Shi Wanqiu, a student of the Dance Department, pays respects to Lord An."
An Daoling simply gazed at her intently without uttering a word, his eyes filled with an indescribable tenderness.
Ah Qiu was deeply shocked by such a gaze.
Even her master had never so directly expressed his love for her with such clear and unambiguous eyes.
What did she do that made Duke An value her so much?
Seeing her bewildered and uneasy, An Daoling chuckled, withdrew his gaze, and casually handed her the gold-lacquered sealed imperial edict box, saying, "Take a look for yourself."
Then, with a meaningful tone, he said, "Originally, it was my turn to read the imperial decree, and you, A-Qiu, would have to kneel and kowtow to receive it. But since there's no one else here, we can do as we please."
A-Qiu was sweating profusely as they talked.
An Daoling's words clearly indicated that he already knew her identity as a member of the martial arts world.
She dared not answer, and could only respectfully accept the box. An Daoling could be informal, but as the lowest-ranking dancer in the Music Bureau, she dared not just casually open it. Therefore, she held the box in her hands, looked up at the sky, and prepared to perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony before opening it.
To everyone's surprise, An Daoling was not just being polite. Seeing that A Qiu was about to kneel, he had already flicked his sleeves and used a purple bamboo flute to stop her from kneeling, saying decisively, "I've already said, you don't need to kneel."
He then emphasized, adding meaningfully, "You'll understand later that there's a reason I did this."
There was a reason for not kneeling before the imperial edict? Although A Qiu was somewhat stunned, he still said, "Thank you, Lord An." Then, he respectfully opened the imperial edict and read it aloud in a low voice.
In his decree, Xie Lang stated that Shi Wanqiu, a musician in the Music Bureau, was a descendant of the previous Xian Shao Academy and inherited the Bai Zhu dance. She was renowned for her beauty and grace, considered the foremost dancer in the troupe. Most importantly, her character and virtue were worthy of her ancestors; she had dared to risk her life before the emperor to fend off the White Tiger and rescue the Crown Prince, demonstrating both loyalty and wisdom. Therefore, she was stripped of her status as a musician and restored to her former status as a respectable person, and was further granted the title of Sixth-Rank Musician in the Music Bureau.
An Daoling's gaze never left her face for a moment; he was observing her reaction.
After reading it, A Qiu felt she should express deep gratitude, but with Duke An watching, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She could only force a smile and say, "Shi Wanqiu thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."
An Daoling laughed and said, "Do you feel that the reward is too light? After all, you saved the life of the crown prince. In ancient times, there was Feng Yuan who braved the bear, and now there is Shi Shi who braved the tiger. If I were Zhao Zhaorong, I would definitely write you into the biographies of virtuous women."
He said it was funny, and Ah Qiu was no longer nervous. He honestly replied, "The reward is quite generous. Just the fact that he was freed from the entertainment industry is something many people would kill for."
An Daoling said solemnly, “That is indeed the case. Our dynasty is fair and just in its rewards and punishments from top to bottom, and it will not be biased because of personal favors or personal relationships. Although you saved the Crown Prince’s life, it is unrealistic to expect to rise to prominence overnight. However, you have been able to get rid of your status as a musician and become a free citizen, which has given you a stepping stone to continue to move up in this society. Although the position of Dianyue is a minor official of the sixth rank, it is already the first step into the official career. You just need to do your best, and you will surely have good fortune in the future. After all, His Majesty, the Empress, and the Crown Prince still remember you.”
Ah Qiu listened to his explanation so clearly and understandably, which was full of guidance and encouragement.
Not only are there vast differences between those registered as musicians and those registered as commoners, but there are also vast differences between officials and commoners. Simply put, it's a difference in their origins.
Although the rank of sixth-grade musician was low, it allowed one to gradually rise to the ranks of the scholar-official class, a position completely different from that of commoners, servants, eunuchs, or palace maids.
If A-Qiu truly came from a family of musicians, this imperial decree would have changed the fate of three generations of her family. Even her ancestors would be deeply grateful; it was no small matter.
A Qiu bowed again and said, "A Qiu thanks Lord An for his guidance. I dare not take this lightly."
At the same time, he guessed that An Daoling's repeated reminders were probably because he was worried that in the eyes of a Lanling Hall's Divine Weapon Master, this reward was no different from having no reward at all. A piece of paper lightly granting him a minor official position, yet it was an honor that many people could not obtain in their entire lives.
An Daoling said deeply, "This is His Majesty's reward. But I have an additional token of my gratitude."
A Qiu was taken aback and declined, saying, "Serving His Majesty is my duty, how could I dare to accept such an extraordinary reward from Lord An?"
An Daoling took the golden lotus token from his waist and handed it to A Qiu, saying, "This is the Heavenly Secret Token."
There are three decrees in the world today, and their influence is the greatest.
Firstly, Gu Yi's "Ministerial Tutor Order" meant that wherever he went, whether it was the government, the business community, or the martial arts world, everyone gave him face and cooperated with his actions; otherwise, it would be considered the same crime as defying the imperial decree and plotting rebellion.
Secondly, there is the "Assassination Order of Qin" of Lanling Hall. That is, the dagger in A Qiu's hand is "Assassinate Qin". Wherever the assassination of Qin goes, all the people in the martial arts world will give way, because of the strong support of Lanling Hall.
Thirdly, there is the "Heavenly Secret Token" in An Daoling's hands. If the power of the first two tokens is mainly guaranteed by the state apparatus and overwhelming strength, then the Heavenly Secret Token is more symbolic than practical, and is a symbol of the prestige and morality of the Central Plains martial arts world.
Those who hold the Heavenly Secret Token can command all the righteous sects and factions in the martial arts world. All the orders given by the token holder will be obeyed by the famous sects.
Ah Qiu felt as if she were being roasted over a fire, almost drenched in sweat, and said, "What virtue or ability do I have to accept this?"
The Heavenly Secret Order and the Assassination Order were, in a sense, natural enemies.
Those who hold the order to assassinate the Qin emperor often only desire to overthrow the empire and establish a new dynasty; while those who hold the Heavenly Secrets Order have the sacred duty to protect the stability of the land and the state. This was the case with the Four Heavenly Secrets Constellations who entered the palace in previous dynasties.
If she were to hold both orders, she feared they would fight each other while she was dreaming.
Moreover, she also had a token personally given to her by Gu Yi—the Junior Tutor's Token.
An Daoling smiled and said, "You think you shouldn't possess it, but you've already done what the Heavenly Secret Order requires you to do."
A-Qiu suddenly realized.
That is indeed the case.
When her master entered the palace and disrupted the "White Silk" flute with demonic music, she chose to join forces with Gu Yi and Zhongli Wuyan to suppress her master's flute playing, forcing him to flee in defeat.
When the White Tiger attacked the Crown Prince, she could have stayed out of it, but she risked exposing herself and chose to protect the Crown Prince.
So, in the eyes of the Four Constellations, which symbolize justice, she has already chosen her side.
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